Superfund Task Force
“In just over a year, EPA has taken multiple important actions to accelerate the remediation of the Mississippi Phosphates Superfund Site,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “This memo reflects my commitment to addressing Superfund sites as quickly and safely as possible to ensure human health and economic activity in the surrounding areas are fully protected.” Read the press release here.
On April 16, 2018, the EPA released an updated Administrator’s Emphasis List of Superfund sites. The list represents sites identified by the Regions with concurrence from the Administrator that will benefit from his targeted immediate and intense attention. The updated Emphasis List no longer includes the Anaconda Copper Mine in Nevada and San Jacinto River Waste Pits in Texas. The Casmalia Resources site in California, Delaware Sand & Gravel Landfill site in Delaware, and St. Regis Paper Company site in Minnesota were also added to the list to spur action on cleanup and redevelopment efforts.
EPA Senior Adviser Albert Kelly views the expanse of the Berkeley Pit located in Butte, MT. His visit to the Anaconda and Butte / Silver Bow Creek Superfund sites highlights EPA's commitment to moving forward with expedited clean ups.
On April 10, 2018, EPA Senior Advisor Albert Kelly and Regional Administrator Doug Benevento visited the Anaconda Smelter Superfund site with Charlie Coleman, EPA's Remedial Project Manager for the site, and Joe Vranka, chief of EPA's Montana Superfund Unit.
EPA Senior Advisor Albert Kelly speaking with local leaders and citizens emphasizing EPA's commitment to expedite cleanup work at the Anaconda Smelter Superfund site.
Photo of April 10, 2018 meeting where EPA Senior Advisor Albert Kelly and Regional Administrator Doug Benevento emphasized EPA's commitment to expedite cleanup work at the Anaconda Smelter Superfund site.
Photo of EPA Administrator Pruitt visiting the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site in 2017 after Hurricane Harvey. On April 9, 2018 EPA announced that an agreement has been reached with International Paper Company and McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corporation to perform a remedial design at the site. From left to right: Scott Jones of the Galveston Bay Foundation; Jackie Young, of the Texas Health and Environment Coalition; John Meyer, EPA; Sam Coleman, former EPA Acting Regional Administrator; EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
On March 22, 2018, EPA deleted the surface soil portion of the 55-acre Pacific Coast Pipeline site in Fillmore, Calif., from the Superfund National Priorities List clearing the way for commercial or recreational use.
Representatives from EPA, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and the towns of Foxborough and Mansfield gather to celebrate the deletion of the Hatheway & Patterson site from Superfund’s National Priorities List. 
Tom Mahler, a remedial project manager from EPA’s Region 7 office, presents the proposed remedy for the West Lake Landfill Superfund site to an audience of more than 600 community members and officials in Bridgeton, Missouri, on Mar. 6, 2018.
On Feb. 27, 2018, EPA deleted the C&D Recycling site in Foster Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, from the Superfund National Priorities List. EPA conducted oversight of the remediation work by Nassau Metals Corporation to clean up soil and sediment contamination, and has determined the site no longer poses a threat to human health or the environment.
On Feb. 13, 2018, Administrator Pruitt toured the Mohawk Tannery site in Nashua, New Hampshire, with EPA Region 1 Administrator Alexandra Dunn and Superfund Director Bryan Olson. Mohawk Tannery is one of the 21 sites targeted by Administrator Pruitt for intense, immediate action. EPA’s action items for the site are to finalize a non-time critical removal action and facilitate redevelopment with interested developers.
Introduction
"The Superfund Task Force reflects the best efforts of our career professionals to expedite Superfund site remediation and better protect the health of our citizens and our environment." - EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
Protecting human health and the environment is EPA’s core mission. Ensuring that the Superfund program operates optimally is one of this mission’s cornerstones.
With this in mind, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt established the Superfund Task Force on May 22, 2017, to provide recommendations for improving and expediting site cleanups and promoting redevelopment.
Specifically, the Task Force looked at how EPA can:
- Restructure the cleanup process;
- Realign incentives of all involved parties to promote timely remediation;
- Reduce the burden on cooperating parties;
- Incentivize parties to remediate sites;
- Encourage private investment in cleanups; and
- Promote the revitalization of properties across the country while ensuring protection of human health and the environment.
On July 25, 2017, EPA’s Superfund Task Force released its recommendations, which are organized under five goals:
- Expediting cleanup and remediation;
- Reinvigorating responsible-party cleanup and reuse;
- Encouraging private investment;
- Promoting redevelopment and community revitalization; and
- Engaging partners and stakeholders.
EPA is committed to actively engaging with our partners and stakeholders to successfully implement the Task Force’s recommendations. Each of the above goals includes actions to begin within 12 months of the recommendations’ release. These actions are in various stages of planning or execution — please see the quarterly reports provided on the Accomplishments page for status updates.